for the term of his natural life-第57章

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rt　Town　as　would　most　readily　repeat　it。　　〃Blank　awkward　the　fellow's　dying；〃　he　confessed　to　himself。　　〃If　he　hadn't　died；　nobody　would　have　bothered　about　him。〃　A　sinister　truth。　North；　on　the　other　hand；　comforted　himself　with　the　belief　that　the　fact　of　the　convict's　death　under　the　lash　would　cause　indignation　and　subsequent　inquiry。　　〃The　truth　must　come　out　if　they　only　ask；〃　thought　he。　　Self…deceiving　North！　　Four　years　a　Government　chaplain；　and　not　yet　attained　to　a　knowledge　of　a　Government's　method　of　〃asking〃　about　such　matters！　　Kirkland's　mangled　flesh　would　have　fed　the　worms　before　the　ink　on　the　last　〃minute〃　from　deliberating　Authority　was　dry。

Burgess；　however；　touched　with　selfish　regrets；　determined　to　baulk　the　parson　at　the　outset。　　He　would　send　down　an　official　〃return〃　of　the　unfortunate　occurrence　by　the　same　vessel　that　carried　his　enemy；　and　thus　get　the　ear　of　the　Office。　　Meekin；　walking　on　the　evening　of　the　flogging　past　the　wooden　shed　where　the　body　lay；　saw　Troke　bearing　buckets　filled　with　dark…coloured　water；　and　heard　a　great　splashing　and　sluicing　going　on　inside　the　hut。　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

〃Doctor's　bin　post…morticing　the　prisoner　what　was　flogged　this　morning；　sir；〃　said　Troke；　〃and　we're　cleanin'　up。〃

Meekin　sickened；　and　walked　on。　　He　had　heard　that　unhappy　Kirkland　possessed　unknown　disease　of　the　heart；　and　had　unhappily　died　before　receiving　his　allotted　punishment。　　His　duty　was　to　comfort　Kirkland's　soul；　he　had　nothing　to　do　with　Kirkland's　slovenly　unhandsome　body；　and　so　he　went　for　a　walk　on　the　pier；　that　the　breeze　might　blow　his　momentary　sickness　away　from　him。　On　the　pier　he　saw　North　talking　to　Father　Flaherty；　the　Roman　Catholic　chaplain。　　Meekin　had　been　taught　to　look　upon　a　priest　as　a　shepherd　might　look　upon　a　wolf；　and　passed　with　a　distant　bow。　The　pair　were　apparently　talking　on　the　occurrence　of　the　morning；　for　he　heard　Father　Flaherty　say；　with　a　shrug　of　his　round　shoulders；　〃He　woas　not　one　of　moi　people；　Mr。　North；　and　the　Govermint　would　not　suffer　me　to　interfere　with　matters　relating　to　Prhotestint　prisoners。〃　〃The　wretched　creature　was　a　Protestant；〃　thought　Meekin。　〃At　least　then　his　immortal　soul　was　not　endangered　by　belief　in　the　damnable　heresies　of　the　Church　of　Rome。〃　So　he　passed　on；　giving　good…humoured　Denis　Flaherty；　the　son　of　the　butter…merchant　of　Kildrum；　a　wide　berth　and　sea…room；　lest　he　should　pounce　down　upon　him　unawares；　and　with　Jesuitical　argument　and　silken　softness　of　speech；　convert　him　by　force　to　his　own　state　of　erroras　was　the　well…known　custom　of　those　intellectual　gladiators；　the　Priests　of　the　Catholic　Faith。　North；　on　his　side；　left　Flaherty　with　regret。　　He　had　spent　many　a　pleasant　hour　with　him；　and　knew　him　for　a　narrow…minded；　conscientious；　yet　laughter…loving　creature；　whose　God　was　neither　his　belly　nor　his　breviary；　but　sometimes　in　one　place　and　sometimes　in　the　other；　according　to　the　hour　of　the　day；　and　the　fasts　appointed　for　due　mortification　of　the　flesh。　　〃A　man　who　would　do　Christian　work　in　a　jog…trot　parish；　or　where　men　lived　too　easily　to　sin　harshly；　but　utterly　unfit　to　cope　with　Satan；　as　the　British　Government　had　transported　him；〃　was　North's　sadly　satirical　reflection　upon　Father　Flaherty；　as　Port　Arthur　faded　into　indistinct　beauty　behind　the　swift…sailing　schooner。　　〃God　help　those　poor　villains；　for　neither　parson　nor　priest　can。〃

He　was　right。　　North；　the　drunkard　and　self…tormented；　had　a　power　for　good；　of　which　Meekin　and　the　other　knew　nothing。　　Not　merely　were　the　men　incompetent　and　self…indulgent；　but　they　understood　nothing　of　that　frightful　capacity　for　agony　which　is　deep　in　the　soul　of　every　evil…doer。　　They　might　strike　the　rock　as　they　chose　with　sharpest…pointed　machine…made　pick　of　warranted　Gospel　manufacture；　stamped　with　the　approval　of　eminent　divines　of　all　ages；　but　the　water　of　repentance　and　remorse　would　not　gush　for　them。　They　possessed　not　the　frail　rod　which　alone　was　powerful　to　charm。　They　had　no　sympathy；　no　knowledge；　no　experience。　　He　who　would　touch　the　hearts　of　men　must　have　had　his　own　heart　seared。　　The　missionaries　of　mankind　have　ever　been　great　sinners　before　they　earned　the　divine　right　to　heal　and　bless。　　Their　weakness　was　made　their　strength；　and　out　of　their　own　agony　of　repentance　came　the　knowledge　which　made　them　masters　and　saviours　of　their　kind。　　It　was　the　agony　of　the　Garden　and　the　Cross　that　gave　to　the　world's　Preacher　His　kingdom　in　the　hearts　of　men。　　The　crown　of　divinity　is　a　crown　of　thorns。

North；　on　his　arrival；　went　straight　to　the　house　of　Major　Vickers。　〃I　have　a　complaint　to　make；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃I　wish　to　lodge　it　formally　with　you。　　A　prisoner　has　been　flogged　to　death　at　Port　Arthur。　I　saw　it　done。〃

Vickers　bent　his　brow。　　〃A　serious　accusation；　Mr。　North。　　I　must；　of　course；　receive　it　with　respect；　coming　from　you；　but　I　trust　that　you　have　fully　considered　the　circumstances　of　the　case。　　I　always　understood　Captain　Burgess　was　a　most　humane　man。〃

North　shook　his　head。　　He　would　not　accuse　Burgess。　　He　would　let　the　events　speak　for　themselves。　　〃I　only　ask　for　an　inquiry；〃　said　he。

〃Yes；　my　dear　sir；　I　know。　　Very　proper　indeed　on　your　part；　if　you　think　any　injustice　has　been　done；　but　have　you　considered　the　expense；　the　delay；　the　immense　trouble　and　dissatisfaction　all　this　will　give？〃

〃No　trouble；　no　expense；　no　dissatisfaction；　should　stand　in　the　way　of　humanity　and　justice；〃　cried　North。

〃Of　course　not。　　But　will　justice　be　done？　Are　you　sure　you　can　prove　your　case？　　Mind；　I　admit　nothing　against　Captain　Burgess；　whom　I　have　always　considered　a　most　worthy　and　zealous　officer；　but；　supposing　your　charge　to　be　true；　can　you　prove　it？〃

〃Yes。　　If　the　witnesses　speak　the　truth。〃

〃Who　are　they？〃　〃Myself；　Dr。　Macklewain；　the　constable；　and　two　prisoners；　one　of　whom　was　flogged　himself。　　He　will　speak　the　truth；　I　believe。　The　other　man　I　have　not　much　faith　in。〃

〃Very　well；　then　there　is　only　a　prisoner　and　Dr。　Macklewain；　for　if　there　has　been　foul　play　the　convict…constable　will　not　accuse　the　authorities。　　Moreover；　the　doctor　does　not　agree　with　you。〃

〃No？〃　cried　North；　amazed。

〃No。　　You　see；　then；　my　dear　sir；　how　necessary　it　is　not　to　be　hasty　in　matters　of　this　kind。　　I　really　thinkpardon　me　for　my　plainness　that　your　goodness　of　heart　has　misled　you。　　Captain　Burgess　sends　a　report　of　the　case。　　He　says　the　man　was　sentenced　to　a　hundred　lashes　for　gross　insolence　and　disobedience　of　orders；　that　the　doctor　was　present　during　the　punishment；　and　that　the　man　was　thrown　off　by　his　directions　after　he　had　received　fifty…six　lashes。　　That；　after　a　short　interval；　he　was　found　to　be　dead；　and　that　the　doctor　made　a　post…mortem　examination　and　found　disease　of　the　heart。〃

North　started。　　〃A　post…mortem？　I　never　knew　there　had　been　one　held。〃

〃Here　is　the　medical　certificate；〃　said　Vickers；　holding　it　out；　〃accompanied　by　the　copies　of　the　evidence　of　the　constable　and　a　letter　from　the　Commandant。〃

Poor　North　took　the　papers　and　read　them　slowly。　　They　were　apparently　straightforward　enough。　　Aneurism　of　the　ascending　aorta　was　given　as　the　cause　of　death；　and　the　doctor　frankly　admitted　that　had　he　known　the　deceased　to　be　suffering　from　that　complaint　he　would　not　have　permitted　him　to　receive　more　than　twenty…five　lashes。　　〃I　think　Macklewain　is　an　honest　man；〃　said　North；　doubtfully。　　〃He　would　not　dare　to　return　a　false　certificate。　　Yet　the　circumstances　of　the　casethe　horrible　condition　of　the　prisonersthe　frightful　story　of　that　boy〃

〃I　cannot　enter　into　these　questions；　Mr。　North。　　My　position　here　is　to　administer　the　law　to　the　best　of　my　ability；　not　to　question　it。〃

North　bowed　his　head　to　the　reproof。　　In　some　sort　of　justly　unjust　way；　he　felt　that　he　deserved　it。　　〃I　can　say　no　more；　sir。　　I　am　afraid　I　am　helpless　in　this　matteras　I　have　been　in　others。　　I　see　that　the　evidence　is　against　me；　but　it　is　my　duty　to　carry　my　efforts　as　far　as　I　can；　and　I　will　do　so。〃　Vickers　bowed　stiffly　and　wished　him　good　morning。　　Authority；　however　well…meaning　in　private　life；　has　in　its　official　capacity　a　natural　dislike　to　those　dissatisfied　persons　who　persist　in　pushing　inquiries　to　extremities。

North；　going　out　with　saddened　spirits；　met　in　the　passage　a　beautiful　young　girl。　　It　was　Sylvia；　coming　to　visit　her　father。　He　lifted　his　hat　and　looked　after　her。　　He　guessed　that　she　was　the　daughter　of　the　man　he　had　leftthe　wife　of　the　Captain　Frere　concerning　whom　he　had　heard　so　much。　　North　was　a　man　whose　morbidly　excited　brain　was　prone　to　strange　fancies；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　beneath　the　clear　blue　eyes　that　flashed　upon　him　for　a　moment；　lay　a　hint　of　future　sadness；　in　which；　in　some　strange　way；　he　himself　was　to　bear　part。　He　stared　after　her　figure　until　it　disappeared；　and　long　after　the　dainty　presence　of　the　young　bridetrimly　booted；　tight…waisted；　and　neatly…glovedhad　faded；　with　all　its　sunshine　of　gaiety　and　health；　from　out　of　his　mental　vision；　he　still　saw　those　blue　eyes　and　that　cloud　of　golden　hair。




CHAPTER　XVII。

CAPTAIN　AND　MRS。　FRERE。



Sylvia　had　become　the　wife　of　Maurice　Frere。　　The　wedding　created　excitement　in　the　convict　settlement；　for　Maurice　Frere；　though　oppressed　by　the　secret　shame　at　open　matrimony　which　affects　men　of　his　character；　could　not　in　decencyseeing　how　〃good　a　thing　for　him〃　was　this　wealthy　alliancedemand　unceremonious　nuptials。　　So；　after　the　fashion　of　the　townthere　being　no　〃continent〃　or　〃Scotland〃　adjacent　as　a　hiding　place　for　bridal　blushesthe　alliance　was　entered　into　with　due　pomp　of　ball　and　supper；　bride　and　bridegroom　departing　through　the　golden　afternoon　to　the　nearest　of　Major　Vickers's　stations。　Thence　it　had　been　arranged　they　should　return　after　a　fortnight；　and　take　ship　for　Sydney。

Major　Vickers；　affectionate　though　he　was　to　the　man　whom　he　believed　to　be　the　saviour　of　his　child；　had　no　notion　of　allowing　him　to　live　on　Sylvia's　fortune。　　He　had　settled　his　daughter's　portionten　thousand　poundsupon　herself　and　children；　and　had　informed　Frere　that　he　expected　him　to　live　upon　an　income　of　his　own　earning。　　After　many　consultations　between　the　pair；　it　had　been　arranged　that　a　civil　appointment　in　Sydney　would　best　suit　the　bridegroom；　who　was　to　sell　out　of　the　service。　This　notion　was　Frere's　own。　　He　never　cared　for　military　duty；　and　had；　moreover；　private　debts　to　no　inconsiderable　amount。　　By　selling　his　commission　he　would　be　enabled　at　once　to　pay　these　debts；　and　render　himself　eligible　for　any　well…paid　post　under　the　Colonial　Government　that　the　interest　of　his　father…in…law；　and　his　own　reputation　as　a　convict　disciplinarian；　might　procure。　　Vickers　would　fain　have　kept　his　daughter　with　him；　but　he　unselfishly　acquiesced　in　the　scheme；　admitting　that　Frere's　plea　as　to　the　comforts　she　would　derive　from　the　society　to　be　found　in　Sydney　was　a　valid　one。

〃You　can　come　over　and　see　us　when　we　get　settled；　papa；〃　said　Sylvia；　with　a　young　matron's　pride　of　place；　〃and　we　can　come　and　see　you。　Hobart　Town　is　very　pretty；　but　I　want　to　see　the　world。〃

〃You　should　go　to　London；　Poppet；〃　said　Maurice；　〃that's　the　place。　Isn't　it；　si